Wrench



' (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. I. JOHNSON.

WRENCH.

Patented Mar. 10

(No Model.)

' Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. F. JOHN- SON.

WRENCH.

Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF F. JOHNSON, OF VEST SUPERIOR, \VISCONSIN.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,151, dated March10, 1896.

Application filed August 28, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAF F. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vest Superior, in the county of Douglas and State ofWVisconsin, have invented a new and useful \Vrench, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to Wrenches, and particularly to that class knownas ratchetwrenches, the objects in view being to provide a wrench havingadjusting devices and interchangeable parts whereby it is adapted forvarious uses and for engaging different kinds and sizes of objects, and,furthermore, to provide simple means for mounting and dismounting theinterchangeable parts.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a wrench constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is an edge view showing the jaw-actuating springdeflected in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite edge,showing the jaws deflected from the line of the handle. Fig. 5 is asectional view of the jaws and inclosed head on the plane indicated bythe line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the rotary head. Fig.7 is a similar view of the adjustable gage-plate arranged in the cavityof the head. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the head, showing a gage orreducing-block arranged therein in lieu of the adjustable gage-plate.Fig. 9 is a detail view in perspective of said gage or reducing-blockdetached. Fig. 10 is a side view of the wrench, showing a modified formof head arranged between the jaws thereof, the jaws being shownseparated to indicate the manner of arranging the head therebetween.Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View of the head shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12is a detail view of one of the ratchet-arms shown in Fig. 11 detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawlugs.

1 and 2 represent opposite similar jaws forming parts ofpivotally-connected mem- Serial No. 560,765. (No model.)

bers 3 and 4, said members being pivotally connected by means of a bolt5, whereby the jaws may be separated to provide for the insertion orremoval of a rotary head (3. A spring '7 is adjustably secured at oneend to the jaw 2, and bears at its free end against the shank of thejawl, whereby the jaws are normally held in the closed position shown inFig. 1. Said spring is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 8, for thereception of a bolt 9, and the extremity of the spring adjacent to thebolt is beveled to engage a beveled shoulder 10 on the jaw 2 toassistthe bolt in holding the spring in its operative position. WVhen it isdesired to swing the spring laterally, as shown in Fig. 3, to providefor opening the jaws to adjust a diiferent head, as shown in Fig. 10,the nut on the extremity of the bolt must be loosened and the springmoved longitudinally to disengage its extremity from the shoulder 10.

The shank of the member 3 is adapted to fit in a groove 11 in the shankof the member 4, whereby when the jaws are in their normal position theshank of the member 3 is approximately concealed by the shank of thememher 4.

In addition to the pivotal joint between the members 3 and 4 of thewrench the jaws 1 and 2 are hinged, respectively, to their respectiveshanks to form the joints 12 and 13. The pivot 14 of the joint 13 isextended to form the bolt 9 by which the spring 7 is held in place, andthe pivot 15 of the joint 12 is extended beyond the edge of the jaw 1and is provided with a thumb-hold 16, said pivot being threaded in oneof the members of the joint whereby it is capable of adjustment to serveas a limiting-pin to regulate the relative positions of the jaws. Byadjusting said pin toward the jaw 2 the jaws may be held at a greaterinterval than when allowed to close until their contiguous parts are incontact, and by thus limiting the movement of the jaws toward each otherthe rotary movement of the head may be allowed without unnecessaryfriction or jamming.

In order to secure the jaws in the desired positions with relation totheir shanks, I employ locking devices consisting of springlatches 17 onthe jaws provided with spurs to engage the notches of segmental racks 18on the shanks. By engaging the latches with different notches of theracks the jaws may be locked at the desired angular position or in theplane of the shanks.

The rotary head is provided with parallel flanges 19 to bear againstopposite side surfaces of the jaws, and the groov 20 between saidflanges incloses a ratchet for engagement by the ratchet-teeth upon theinner surfaces of the jaws. The actuating-spring 7 whereby the jaws areheld in their normal positions provides for turning the jaws looselyupon the head during the backward movement of the wrench, and causes theteeth of the jaws to engage those of the head during the for wardmovement of the wrench in order to impart rotary motion to the head.

In Figs. 1 to 9 the form of head which I have illustrated is providedwith a parallel-sided opening 21 for the reception of a nut or bolthead,the inner end of the opening being V- shaped or angular in construction.The sides of this opening are serrated or roughened to properly engagethe surfaces of a nut or bolthead, and parallel guide-grooves 522 areformed in said sides for the reception of projections 23 formed at theopposite edges of a gageplate 2t adapted to fit slidably between thesides of the opening in the head to form a space of greater or less sizebetween the plane of its inner surface and the inner end of the openingto accommodate nuts and bolt-heads of different sizes. This gage-plateis secured at the desired adjustment to fit the nut or bolt-head to beoperated by means of a pivotal button 25 mounted upon the outer surfaceof the plate and provided at its extremities with inclined ribs orthreads 26 to engage mutilated threads 27 011 the sides of the openingin the head between the guide-grooves 22. when the opening in the headhas been fitted upon a nut or bolt-head and the gage-plate has beenpushed inward to bring itin contact with the outer side of the nut orbolt-head said adj usting-button should be turned to en gage themutilated threads at the sides of the opening and thereby secure theplate in its position.

15y reason of the inclination of the threads on the extremities of thebutton and upon the sides of the opening the operation of turning thebutton into engagement with the lastnamed threads forces it more firmlyagainst the outer side of the nut or bolthead and thus preventslooseness during the operation of the wrench. The button is preferablyprovided upon opposite sides of its center with sockets 28 for thereception of studs on a suitable wrench, to facilitate the turning ofthe button into engagement with the mutilated threads on the sides ofthe openings in the head.

In Figs. 8 and 0 I have shown a reducing gage or block adapted to befitted in the opening in the head in lieu of the above-describedgage-plate, said reducing gage or block hav- Thus in g parallel sidearms 29 provided upon their outer surfaces with rounded ribs 30 to litin the concave surfaces in which are located the mutilated threads 27,said side arms being connected at their inner ends by an angular orV-shaped portion 31, which fits in the an gular or V-shaped inner end ofthe opening in the head. This reduein g gage or block is held in placewhen in use by means of a catch 32 consisting of a bail provided at itslower end with a projection to fit in a socket 3 3 in the head. Theinner surfaces of the arms of this gage or block are roughened orserrated to insure engagement with a nut or bolt-head.

In addition to the above-described construction I also employ aninterchangeable head 34 adapted for engaging rods, pipes, and similarobjects, saidhead being illustrated in Fi 10 and 11, and being inconstruction substam tially like the head shown in the former figures ofthe drawings, with the exception that the inner end of the openingtherein is rounded and the entire surface of said opening is toothed orserrated. In addition to this the head is slotted for the reception ofswing ing toothed arms 36 and 37, adapted to be swung at their free endsinto the opening 35 to engage rods or tubes of smaller diameter than canbe engaged by the teeth of the opening. These toothed arms are adjustedand held at the desired adjustment by means of screws 38. The operationof the wrench when this interchangeable form of head is employed is thesame as that described in connection with the form adapted for engagingnuts and bolt-heads.

From the above description it will be seen that the angular adjustmentof the jaws with relation to the shanks by which they are carriedprovides for the use of the tool in angles and in awkward positionswhere a straight wrench is useless and more or less adj ustment of thejaws may be attained without modifying the operativeness of the device.

It is obvious that the wrench may be used independently of the heads toengage a round object, such as a pipe or red of larger size than thatwhich is adapted to be engaged by the interchangeable head shown inFigs. 10 and 11.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a wrench, thecombination of pivotally-connected members comprising shanks and jawscarried thereby, the jaws being hinged to the shanks, and means forsecuring the jaws at any angular adjustment with relation to the shanks,substantially as specified.

2. In a wrench, the combination of pivotall y-connected members havingshanks and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being hinged respectively tothe shanks, and means for locking the jaws at the desired angularadjustment, such means consisting of latches carried by the shanks, andracks carried by the jaws and engaged by the latches, substantially asspecified.

3. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally-connected members havingshanks and jaws carried thereby, one of the shanks bein g fitted in agroove in the other shank and the jaws being hinged respectively to theshanks and adapted to be arranged in angular positions with relation tothe shanks, a pivot-pin for one of the hinges extending beyond thelateral edge of the member, a platespring bearing at its free endagainst the shank of the other member and slotted to receive theprojecting end of said pin, the extremity of the spring adjacent to thepin being beveled to engage a beveled shoulder on the member by whichthe spring is carried, and a nut for locking the spring in the desiredposition, substantially as specified.

4. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally-connected members havingshanks and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being hinged to the shanks andadapted to occupy an angular position with relation thereto, a springpivotally mounted upon one of the members to engage the other and holdthe members in their normal positions, and a limiting-screw forming thepivot of the hinge between one of the jaws and its shank and adapted tobe adjusted to limit the movement of the jaws under the pressure of saidspring, substantially as specified.

5. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally-connected members havingshanks and j aws carried thereby, the jaws being interiorly toothed, aspring for maintaining the jaws in their normal positions, a rotary headhaving a groove for the reception of the jaws, the bottom of the groovebeing toothed for engagement by the teeth of the jaws, said head havingan opening provided with oppositely-disposed roughened or serratedsides, substantially as specified.

6. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally-connected spring-actuatedmembers havin g shanks and jaws carried thereby, the jaws beinginteriorly toothed, a rotary head engaged by the jaws and provided withteeth to interlock with those on the jaws, said head having an openingwhich extends to one side thereof, and adjustable means for varying theoperative space of the opening to fit objects of different sizes,substantially as specified.

7. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally-connected spring-actuatedmembers having interiorly-toothed jaws, of a rotary head arrangedbetween the jaws and toothed for engagement thereby, said head having anopening extending to the side thereof, and a reducing-gage fitted insaid opening to contract the same for the reception of objects ofreduced size, substantially as specified.

8. In a wrench, the combination with pivotallyconnected spring-actuatedmembers having interiorly-toothed jaws, of a rotary head arrangedbetween the jaws and toothed for engagement by the teeth thereof, saidhead having a parallel-sided opening extending to one side of the head,a gage-plate mounted to slide in said opening, and means for lockingsaid plate at the desired adjustment, substantially as specified.

9. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally connected spring actuatedmembers having interiorly-toothed jaws, of a rotary head arrangedbetween the jaws and toothed for engagement by the same, the head beingprovided with a parallel-sided opening extending to one side thereof, agage plate mounted to slide in said opening and pro vided withprojections engaging grooves in the parallel sides of the opening, andmeans for locking the gage-plate at the desired adjustment,substantially as specified.

10. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally-connected members havinginteriorlytoothed jaws, of a rotary head arranged between the jaws andtoothed for engagement thereby, said head having a parallel-sidedopening, a gage-plate mounted to slide in the opening in the head,mutilated threads at opposite sides of the opening, and a buttonprovided with threads or ribs to engage said mutilated threads, thegage-plate being adapted to be forced inward upon an object when thebutton is turned to engage the mutilated threads, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAF F. JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

JOHN A. HOBE, J ULIUs OLESON.

